CG helps Trans-Pacific sailor reach CA

Associated Press December 1, 2019

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Coast Guard has brought a 78-year-old sailor to a California port after he repeatedly ran low on provisions during a five-month trip across the Pacific in a sailboat and requested help.

The Coast Guard says a cutter took the sailboat Mayfly under tow on Nov. 13 southwest of Los Angeles and transferred the tow early on Nov. 14 to a vessel that brought it into Oxnard’s Channel Islands Harbor.

A statement says the Coast Guard first helped the unidentified sailor when his brother reported on Oct. 29 that the mariner left Japan at the end of May and expected to arrive in San Francisco in late August, but lack of wind was lengthening the trip.

A vessel was diverted to provide supplies.

Similar help was provided on Nov. 4 when supplies ran low in heavy weather west of Los Angeles.